The Invention of Aspirin

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

The Invention of Aspirin — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

The Invention of Aspirin — book cover — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of Aspirin — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

"Ouch!" Freya exclaimed, rubbing her forehead. She'd bumped into the hall table rushing to grab her tablet. "I wish my head would stop hurting," she groaned to…
"Ouch!" Freya exclaimed, rubbing her forehead. She'd bumped into the hall table rushing to grab her tablet. "I wish my head would stop hurting," she groaned to Valentina, who was arranging flowers nearby. "Maybe you should take something for it, sweetie," Valentina suggested gently. "Hey, what do you know about Aspirin anyway?" Freya asked, perking up with curiosity, notebook in hand. "I wonder who invented it?"

"Ouch!" Freya exclaimed, rubbing her forehead. She'd bumped into the hall table rushing to grab her tablet. "I wish my head would stop hurting," she groaned to Valentina, who was arranging flowers nearby. "Maybe you should take something for it, sweetie," Valentina suggested gently. "Hey, what do you know about Aspirin anyway?" Freya asked, perking up with curiosity, notebook in hand. "I wonder who invented it?"

Page 2

Freya raced to her science-themed bedroom. Her walls were covered in posters of famous scientists and inventors! "My Invention Encyclopedia will know," she…
Freya raced to her science-themed bedroom. Her walls were covered in posters of famous scientists and inventors! "My Invention Encyclopedia will know," she declared, grabbing a large, leather-bound book from her shelf. As soon as she touched it, the room began to swirl with light.

Freya raced to her science-themed bedroom. Her walls were covered in posters of famous scientists and inventors! "My Invention Encyclopedia will know," she declared, grabbing a large, leather-bound book from her shelf. As soon as she touched it, the room began to swirl with light.

Page 3

The swirling stopped. Freya found herself in a dusty, turn-of-the-century laboratory. "Wow, where am I?" she wondered aloud, scribbling in her notebook.
The swirling stopped. Freya found herself in a dusty, turn-of-the-century laboratory. "Wow, where am I?" she wondered aloud, scribbling in her notebook. A man with a kind face turned around. "Can I help you, young lady? I'm struggling with a big problem!" he said with a sigh. "My father is very sick and in so much pain!"

The swirling stopped. Freya found herself in a dusty, turn-of-the-century laboratory. "Wow, where am I?" she wondered aloud, scribbling in her notebook. A man with a kind face turned around. "Can I help you, young lady? I'm struggling with a big problem!" he said with a sigh. "My father is very sick and in so much pain!"

Page 4

"I'm here to learn! Who are you, sir?" Freya asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. The man replied, "My name is Felix Hoffmann. I'm a chemist here at Bayer.
"I'm here to learn! Who are you, sir?" Freya asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. The man replied, "My name is Felix Hoffmann. I'm a chemist here at Bayer. I'm trying to find a medicine for my father's arthritis. He suffers greatly," Felix explained, gesturing towards a complex-looking piece of equipment. "The only thing that helps is salicylic acid, derived from the meadowsweet plant, but it terribly upsets his stomach!"

"I'm here to learn! Who are you, sir?" Freya asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. The man replied, "My name is Felix Hoffmann. I'm a chemist here at Bayer. I'm trying to find a medicine for my father's arthritis. He suffers greatly," Felix explained, gesturing towards a complex-looking piece of equipment. "The only thing that helps is salicylic acid, derived from the meadowsweet plant, but it terribly upsets his stomach!"

Page 5

"So, you're trying to make it better?" Freya asked, taking notes furiously. "Exactly! I am trying to acetylate salicylic acid to make it more tolerable," Felix…
"So, you're trying to make it better?" Freya asked, taking notes furiously. "Exactly! I am trying to acetylate salicylic acid to make it more tolerable," Felix responded. "It's a long process, but I am determined to help him and others who suffer like him. As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else,'" he explained.

"So, you're trying to make it better?" Freya asked, taking notes furiously. "Exactly! I am trying to acetylate salicylic acid to make it more tolerable," Felix responded. "It's a long process, but I am determined to help him and others who suffer like him. As Leonardo da Vinci said, 'Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art; Study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else,'" he explained. "I hope I can succeed!"

Page 6

"Acetylate...that sounds complicated!" Freya exclaimed. Felix smiled. "It is, but after many tries, I found a way to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid that was…
"Acetylate...that sounds complicated!" Freya exclaimed. Felix smiled. "It is, but after many tries, I found a way to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid that was both effective and much easier on the stomach!" he explained excitedly. "We started selling it in 1899, and it was trademarked as Aspirin on March 6, 1899. It became a huge success!" He held up a small bottle with the famous logo.

"Acetylate...that sounds complicated!" Freya exclaimed. Felix smiled. "It is, but after many tries, I found a way to synthesize acetylsalicylic acid that was both effective and much easier on the stomach!" he explained excitedly. "We started selling it in 1899, and it was trademarked as Aspirin on March 6, 1899. It became a huge success!" He held up a small bottle with the famous logo.

Page 7

Freya scribbled more notes. "Wow, so one small pill changed everything! How many people did it help?" she asked. "Millions!" Felix replied.
Freya scribbled more notes. "Wow, so one small pill changed everything! How many people did it help?" she asked. "Millions!" Felix replied. "And it wasn't just for pain. Aspirin later proved to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. By 1950, Bayer was selling Aspirin in over 70 countries and generating huge revenue!" Suddenly, a bell rang in the distance.

Freya scribbled more notes. "Wow, so one small pill changed everything! How many people did it help?" she asked. "Millions!" Felix replied. "And it wasn't just for pain. Aspirin later proved to help prevent heart attacks and strokes. By 1950, Bayer was selling Aspirin in over 70 countries and generating huge revenue!" Suddenly, a bell rang in the distance.

Page 8

"Oh no, that's the time travel bell! I have to go," Freya said sadly. "But before I do, is there anything else I need to know about Aspirin?" Felix smiled.
"Oh no, that's the time travel bell! I have to go," Freya said sadly. "But before I do, is there anything else I need to know about Aspirin?" Felix smiled. "Just remember that even small discoveries can have a huge impact! And also, to not take too much!"

"Oh no, that's the time travel bell! I have to go," Freya said sadly. "But before I do, is there anything else I need to know about Aspirin?" Felix smiled. "Just remember that even small discoveries can have a huge impact! And also, to not take too much!"

Page 9

Suddenly, Freya was back in her room. The Invention Encyclopedia lay open on her desk. She quickly closed it and ran back to the hallway. "Valentina!
Suddenly, Freya was back in her room. The Invention Encyclopedia lay open on her desk. She quickly closed it and ran back to the hallway. "Valentina! Guess what? Aspirin was invented to help a man's sick father! And it helped millions more!" she exclaimed. "That's wonderful!" Valentina said with a warm smile. "It is so helpful when I have a headache too!".

Suddenly, Freya was back in her room. The Invention Encyclopedia lay open on her desk. She quickly closed it and ran back to the hallway. "Valentina! Guess what? Aspirin was invented to help a man's sick father! And it helped millions more!" she exclaimed. "That's wonderful!" Valentina said with a warm smile. "It is so helpful when I have a headache too!".

Page 10

Freya grinned. "It's amazing how one small thing can make such a big difference! Today, the global aspirin market is worth billions of dollars!
Freya grinned. "It's amazing how one small thing can make such a big difference! Today, the global aspirin market is worth billions of dollars! And it all started with one chemist trying to help his dad!" she declared. Valentina hugged Freya tightly. "As Margaret Mead said, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has,'" she said softly.

Freya grinned. "It's amazing how one small thing can make such a big difference! Today, the global aspirin market is worth billions of dollars! And it all started with one chemist trying to help his dad!" she declared. Valentina hugged Freya tightly. "As Margaret Mead said, 'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has,'" she said softly.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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